The Quarterbacks: Our Favorite 25-Somethings

When ELLE touched down 25 years ago, Wham's "Careless Whisper" topped the charts, Back to the Future ruled, "The Cosby Show" was number one—and a new generation of smart, talented, game-changing artists, filmmakers, actresses, and activists were busy being born. What will these 20-somethings do with the next 25 years? We can't wait to see…

Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad

Ex-reality TV star, novelist

Credits: The Hills' one relatable star; New York Times best-selling novelist whose inspired-by-real-life-events series sold more than one million copies. Best part of being in her twenties: "It's your time to be selfish; you still have freedom." Where she thought she'd be now: "I was never that girl who just wanted babies. I wanted a career before all of that."

The Quarterbacks: Our Favorite 25-Somethings

The Quarterbacks: Our Favorite 25-Somethings

Skier, Olympic medalist

Credits: After crashing at the 2006 Turin Winter Games, she won her first Olympic medals—women's downhill skiing gold and women's super G bronze—in Vancouver in 2010. Adult milestone achieved: "At nine, I went to a training camp in Europe. I was the youngest there by seven years. I felt cool, but I wasn't. I had a perm and bangs. I don't know how my parents let me leave the house."